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August 2010
Will bed bugs be visiting your house?
If you have watched the news this summer, then you probably think bed bugs--also known as Cimex lectularius--are taking over the world, or at least NYC. The bed bug population in the U.S. has grown at an alarming rate in recent months.
A Joint Statement on Bed Bug Control in the United States from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) was issued in August. Although the exact cause of the resurgence is not known, according to the CDC:
"Experts suspect the resurgence is associated with increased resistance of bed bugs to available pesticides, greater international and domestic travel, lack of knowledge regarding control of bed bugs due to their prolonged absence, and the continuing decline or elimination of effective vector/pest control programs at state and local public health agencies."
When bed bugs bite
Bed bugs are a pest. The yuck factor of these blood sucking external parasites (ectoparasites) is huge. Fortunately they do not transmit disease. Some people may get an allergic reaction to the bites. It is also possible to get a secondary infection from the bite. You probably won't even feel their bite because the bugs inject a type of anesthetic and anticoagulant. What you will notice is the small swollen red mark at the bite site that becomes itchy.
Bed bugs and head lice both feed on the human blood, but are not known to transmit disease like other external parasites such as body lice.
How to identify bed bugs
Bed bugs are similar in appearance to a small wood tick. When bed bugs have a meal of blood, their color changes from brown to a purple red and they become more elongated. According to the US EPA:
- Adult bed bugs are 1/4 to 3/8 inch (4-5 mm) long, brown in color, with a flat, oval-shaped body;
- young bed bugs are smaller and lighter in color
Bed bug photos
Helpful photo illustrations of bed bugs and where they hide can be seen at these links:
- US EPA
- Univ. of MN: Traveler Q & A: Preventing bed bugs from hitchhiking to your home
- Bed bug versus Bat Bug
Where do bed bugs live?
Bed bugs are tiny hitchhikers that latch on to an object and move around unnoticed. In general, they don't hitch a ride on human skin or hair, but prefer to ride on clothing or other objects. That's why you need to check out furniture, beds, suitcases, purses, clothing, etc. Bed bugs like the dark and are known to travel up to 100 feet in one night. They often hide in crevices. Common hiding places are near mattress seams, labels or piping--even in the head board. A major infestation in a home warrants checking all furniture, draperies, storage areas, and even appliances. If you can slip a credit card under an object such as loose wall paper, consider this an easy entry space for the tiny bugs to find a place to hide. Because the young bugs are tiny (1/16" -1/4") and nearly translucent, they are difficult to see. Bed bugs are found in places people sleep, but they can also infest stores and theaters or any place people hang out.
Bed bugs in clothing
When removing clothing you think is infested, stand on bare floor and not on carpet so you can spot them if they fall to the floor. You can even get the floor slightly wet before you remove the clothing because this will make it more difficult for the bugs to escape. High temperature (100 -120 F) washing and drying can be effective in killing bugs on clothing. For detailed instructions check out this Univ. of MN link.
Bed bugs in luggage
If you suspect your luggage is infested, place luggage in an air tight plastic bag to contain the bugs. Some methods of getting rid of the bugs inside luggage include high temperature washing (100 - 120 F), heating the bags to a very high core temp (120 F), or freezing (-15 F) the bags. Exact directions for these methods can be found at the Traveler Q & A link at the Univ. of MN.
Signs of bed bug infestation
According to the US EPA here are some warning signs:
- small dark spots the size of dot made by a pen are bed bug excrement
- tiny white eggs and eggshells (about 1mm)
- skins that young bed bugs shed when they mature
- live bed bugs
- rusty or reddish stains on sheets or mattresses caused by bed bugs being crushed
What to do if you find bed bugs
Both the US EPA and the CDC offer detailed instructions for what you can do if you find bed bugs in your home or office or dorm. A few tips to keep bed bugs away include:
- thoroughly checking luggage and clothing when returning from a trip
- using luggage racks when staying at a hotel
- keep purses and briefcases off the floor
- removing clutter that provides a hiding space
- vacuuming
- sealing cracks that might be hiding spaces
- using heat treatment such as washing and drying clothing and linens at high temperatures to kill the bed bugs
- seal mattresses, box springs, and pillows in special encasements to trap bed bugs
If you suspect your dorm room is infested, contact the housing director or your dorm RA immediately. Getting professional help is key to getting rid of them. According to a recent article in The Huffington Post, simply vacuuming and washing your sheets is not a solution to getting rid of the bug hitchhikers in crowded areas such as dorms.
Pesticide safety
If bed bugs take up residence in your house, the National Pesticide Information Center has useful information on how to select and use pesticide products safely.
The recent bed bug resurgence requires that all of us be watchful. New bed bug infestations in public spaces crop up daily. Since bed bugs are very hardy and can survive for over a year without feeding, I am guessing we will be lifting up the sheets and checking our mattresses for a long time. However, bed bugs are not stopping me from traveling. In August I attended BlogHer 10 in NYC with my daughter. We followed the necessary precautions on our trip and kept are eyes open for warning signs. I am happy to say we didn't see a single bed bug.
For more information:
- Bed Bugs CDC-EPA Joint Statement - CDC
- Bed Bugs - Pesticides - US EPA
- Bed Bug Prevention and Control - Univ. of MN
- Bed bug hotel safety
- Traveler Q & A: Preventing bed bugs from hitchhiking to your home
- Bogdan Rau: Keep Bed Bugs Out of Your Dorm!
- University of Kentucky Bed Bug Fact Sheet
- NYC.gov - Bed bugs
- Bedbugs Crawl, They Bite, They Baffle Scientists - NYTimes.com
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Tumblr and me
I joined Tumblr--the site that makes it simple to share practically anything. You can post photos, text, quotes, links, audio, and more. Tumblr is an addictive mix of blogging and tweeting. Your post of a photo or whatever might go viral thanks to the Reblog button on your post that allows a meme to spread rapidly across the blogosphere.
Setting up my Mom-a-thon page on Tumblr and selecting a page theme was so much fun I didn't want to choose just one. I'm sure I will be fiddling with the appearance for weeks.
Set up a Tumblr account for yourself and have fun!
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Photo essay: Time to unwind
I love weekends because I can slow down enough to actually see the beautiful things all around. Enjoy these photos by talented photographers around the globe.
A lovely flower by Strife. (UK)
Girl dancing on the beach by mikebaird (CA,USA)
Bird by Marioawsm
Horses on the beach in Morro Bay CA by tbchris
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DIY: Homemade sugar bliss lip scrub
If you are longing for the days when your lips felt soft and smooth, then try this homemade lip scrub to make your lips ultra kissable. The sugar in the recipe exfoliates and softens your lips and the Vaseline moisturizes and soothes your lips.
Sugar Bliss Lip Scrub:
- Moisturize your lips generously with Vaseline or generic petroleum jelly.
- Add a tsp. of sugar into a small bowl.
- Lightly moisten your finger in water and dip it into the sugar.
- Apply sugar to both the upper and lower lips with your finger.
- Gently rub the sugar into the Vaseline for about 30 seconds in a circular motion and you will remove the dry, flaky skin.
- Rinse off your lips with warm (not cold) water.
- Dry off your lips and add your favorite lip gloss or lipstick.
I also posted this DIY lip scrub recipe in April.
For more recipes, click on Momathon recipes.
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Daily doodle: dog and a bouquet
My dogs never bring me flowers, except for the flower petals stuck on their noses. For more doodles by me, click on Momathon doodles.
Illustration: Chris Olson c 2010
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The high cost of low-cost foods
Finding a deal on a pantry staple at the grocery is a great feeling. That is, until you realize that the low cost of some foods comes with a high price--our safety. Critics of the centralized food production system note the current practices allow for lower costs, but the voluntary recall by large corporations means they are also overseeing their own safety measures.
The current egg recall by large-scale egg producers involves more than a half-billion eggs linked to a Salmonella outbreak. I recently wrote about the egg recall at BlogHer. The egg recall is only one of many current recalls including a deli meat recall from Wal-Mart. For more details on recalls check out: FDA: Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts.
Improved safety measures
Under current legislation the FDA does not have the necessary power to trace safety violations and impose a recall. The bipartisan Food Safety Bill (S510) under consideration in the Senate now might be the key to improving the situation by giving the FDA new powers to safeguard our food and track down violators.
Meanwhile, cook your eggs thoroughly and prevent cross-contamination by cleaning all surfaces and utensils.
For additional information on recent food recalls, check out these links:
FDA: Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts
Deli Meat Tests Positive for Bacteria - US News and World Report
Nationwide deli meat recall announced - CNN.com
Egg recall points up need for Senate action on food safety - Washington Post
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Tech review: Clicker.com finds your favorite tv shows online
I don't have ShowTime on my cable plan, but I really want to watch The
Big C with Laura Linney. According to Clicker.com, I can watch the series pilot on Showtime via Showtime On Demand for a fee or watch it for free on Crackle.com via Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Clicker.com is user friendly--only a few simple steps and you are watching your show online. When Clicker.com finds a show you searched for, the site either includes the video on their site or directs you to another hosting site like ABC, CBS, NBC, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, or iTunes. Based on your search, the site also suggests other shows you might enjoy--a feature similar to the suggested books feature on Amazon.com. You can also subscribe to a Playlist feature that will alert you when new shows in your interest area become available.
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Got eggs? Read this
A growing number of people nationwide are getting salmonella infections from the recent outbreak linked to the tainted eggs from Wright County Egg in Iowa. This is not a regional outbreak--the number of eggs recalled is 380 million and growing.
Recent FDA rules now make eggs safer, but unfortunately before the new July 9th rules large-scale egg producers did not have to comply with the safety measures that cover the refrigeration of stored and transported eggs, pasteurization, rodent control, cleanliness and a Salmonella prevention plan.
How to identify recalled brands
The Egg Safety Center has a detailed chart on recalled eggs listing the brands, codes, and possible stores. You can find it on this link: Egg Safety Center: Recall -- Effected brands and descriptions
Brands listed in recall according to a CNN.com article from August 20th include two recall groups:
Wednesday's (8/18) recall covers eggs branded as
• Albertsons
• Farm Fresh
• James Farms
• Glenview
• Mountain Dairy
• Ralph's
• Boomsma
• Lund
• Kemps
• Pacific CoastEggs in this recall group are marked with
• plant numbers 1720 and 1942
• three-digit code ranging from 136 to 229
The earlier recall covered these brands
• Lucerne
• Albertson
• Mountain Dairy
• Ralph's
• Boomsma
• Sunshine
• Hillandale
• Trafficanda
• Farm Fresh
• Shoreland
• Lund
• Dutch Farms
• Kemps brands
Eggs in this recall group are marked with
• plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946.
• a three-digit code ranging from 136 to 225
Reading the codes on packaging can be tricky. Note that the four-digit plant number begins with "P - " and is followed by the three-digit code.
The plant number begins with a P. The Julian date is a 3-digit code.
If you cook the eggs properly they are safe. However, cross contamination is possible if cooking utensils like pans and spatulas are not washed correctly. Of course, the recall is changing daily. Before consuming eggs please check the most update information.
Salmonella infections symptoms
Please consult your doctor for complete information on the illness, symptoms, and treatment. The recent egg recall involves Salmonella enteridis. Symptoms can occur from 6 to 72 hours after eating an egg. Some symptoms include lower abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, chills, headache. Please consult your doctor for complete information on the illness, symptoms, and treatment. You can also check these links
Salmonella Symptoms: Are My Kids Safe? - CBS News
Salmonella Infections - KidsHealth.org
Salmonella infection: Symptoms - MayoClinic.com
CDC - Salmonella enteritidis: General Information
CDC - Outbreak of Enteritidis Infections - August 19, 2010 - Salmonella
This link includes detailed advice to consumers regarding identifying recalled eggs and how to handle eggs.
FDA: Consumers -- Playing it Safe With Eggs
FoodSafety.gov: Eggs and Egg Products
Eggs, salmonella, recall: What you need to know - latimes.com
Photos above 1) Photo of one egg in a carton by Darwin Bell, 2) Egg codes on carton is a screenshot from the CNN.com online video.
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It's so Etsy: Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake
A twist on the "Keep Calm and Carry On" World War II poster from England.
Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake necklace pendant from repurposed Scrabble tiles (3/4") is available at PrettyWhimsical on Etsy. $6.95
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This geeky mom loves Huff Post Tech
Met the talented Bianca Bosker, Huffington Post Tech Editor, at the sold-out BlogHer'10 in NYC. Bosker created a slideshow of Twitter users' reflections on BlogHer 10.
Seems like a new tech gadget is born every second. That's why I read the Huff Post Tech online to stay up with the latest trends. You can also keep up with tech news on Twitter: @bbosker and @HuffPostTech.
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Daily doodle: dog walking as therapy
It's amazing how much better I feel after taking my dogs for a walk. (Illustration © Chris Olson)
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Baby bootlegging (v): use this term when taking credit for another kid's work
We've all been there... You're sitting at the park next to the PR Mommy who can't stop bragging about how advanced her kid is. And then she inevitably adds a cutting comment: Don't worry, your child will catch up soon.
Ouch. So what do you do? Sometimes I wish that when the PR Mommy stands up a gooey bird turd clings to the seat of her dry-clean only pants. (So far my fantasy has never come true.)
I admit I also have been tempted to try some baby bootlegging. If you don't think about what you just did it feels harmless, that is, until you get caught.
Mitch on the NBC show Modern Family in the clip below "borrows" another child's block tower in order to make his daughter look better. Everything is fine until this bad karma moment bites back.
I admit it, sometimes I find awkward moments hilarious!
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More on lost childhood: "Girls, Uninterrupted" article in NYT
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(Photo: Shana Sureck for The New York Times)
Game time for Molly Kaissar and friends at
the Girls Leadership Institute camp.
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At the Girls Leadership Institute in the Berkshires, teens learn skills to survive in the "Girlworld." Sounds fun, but it also begs the question, what is happening to childhood? Why is it rushing by so fast?
I loved camp--the boating, archery, crafts--and just about everything at camp, except the food. Even though I'm decades past my camp years, I'm sure I still could learn some amazing stuff about self confidence and more.
In an article about the camp,Girl's Interrupted, a NYT article by Jan Hoffman:
"BY the time a girl turns 14, she knows the rules of Girlworld by heart: If you can’t do the pose — hand on hip, eye roll, hair toss — have enough self-respect to go hide in a corner. Let your hair fall over your face, cover your mouth when you speak, and always end declarative sentences like this?"
Read more here: www.nytimes.com
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Should an 8-yr-old get a bikini wax?
Evidently moms are scheduling virgin waxes for their young girls because they think getting a wax treatment at an early age will prevent future hair growth. That's news to me. I have never heard my pediatrician bring up virgin waxing as an option.
According to an article in Gothamist, Wanda Stawczyk, who runs Wanda's European Skin Care on West 57th Street:
"Virgin-waxing for children 8 years old and up who have never shaved before. Virgin hair can be waxed so successfully that growth can be permanently stopped in just 2 to 6 sessions. Save your child a lifetime of waxing... and put the money in the bank for her college education instead."
And this makes me ask again... WHY? Does an 8-yr-old even have pubic hair? According to dermatology.com, the barely noticeable pre-puberty hair is called vellus. This fine, non-pigmented hair covers the body of children.
Except for the advice of the salon worker quoted above, I'm not sure this shaving will prevent hair growth in the future. Besides, if vellus is not noticeable, why should anyone shave it?
What happened to childhood? Virgin waxing is one more way very young girls are asked to grow up way too fast.
(Photo above by Tom@HK.)
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Was I ever hot?
Guess this means I'm getting old...er...older.
I'm not sure if I remember ever being hot, so embracing my former "hotness" seems impossible. Of course, I adore the complicated and sexy Carrie Bradshaw, but I am more like the ultra practical and orderly Miranda.
Besides buying the latest Wonder Bra, is it possible to become hot again? Blogger Stephanie Dolgoff has compiled her observations about that "formerly hot" state of mind in her new book, My Formerly Hot Life: Dispatches from Just the Other Side of Young.
The book has many sparkling reviews. According to Margo Maine, Ph.D., author The Body Myth: Adult Women and the Pressure to Be Perfect:
"My Formerly Hot Life belongs right next to Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love for the woman trying to understand and embrace her complicated contemporary life. At the same time as it is laugh-out-loud funny, it will help you discard the old notions and expectations of yourself that no longer fit. Reading it will help you access the hotness you thought was diminishing…but that might just be heating up."
— Margo Maine, Ph.D., author The Body Myth: Adult Women and the Pressure to Be Perfect
For more great reads, check out my reading list on Momathon books.
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Geotags: Will the photos you post online give away your location?
According to an article by Kate Murphy in San Jose Mercury News
When Adam Savage, host of the popular science program "MythBusters," posted a picture on Twitter of his automobile parked in front of his house, he let his fans know much more than that he drove a Toyota Land Cruiser.
Embedded in the image was a geotag, a bit of data providing the longitude and latitude of where the photo was taken. Hence, he revealed exactly where he lived. And since the accompanying text was "Now it's off to work," potential thieves knew he would not be at home.
You can disable photo geotagging. On the website I Can Stalk U, go to the heading "How do I disable this" to find detailed instructions for disabling geotagging photos on your iPhone (iOS 4.x and iOS 3.x), Palm WebOS, or Google Android.
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Daily doodle: self confidence
Self confidence at any age...
When you are smiling,
you don't see the smile lines.
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Have you flipped?
Can you remember your first crush? I flipped over the coming-of-age novel, Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. Now it's coming to the silver screen thanks to one of my favorite directors, Rob Reiner (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, Stand by Me).
A flashback to the 1960's with a Mayberry setting, this movie could seem square except for an interesting twist. Just like the name suggests, Flipped is told in two distinct voices, his and hers. In this nostalgic movie, you'll see the world through the eyes of both Juli and Bryce--and you just might travel back to the most unforgettable time of your life...
The movie trailer reminds me of one of my favorite TV shows, The Wonder Years. Although the movie doesn't have the dark edginess of many movies popular with teens today, it captures the universal feelings angst during the teenage years. I'm looking forward to watching it with my kids.
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A bike, a basket, a feast
Hungry for a pastrami sandwich at 11 p.m.? One of the perks of living in NYC: almost anything you want to eat can be delivered to your apartment almost anytime of the day. (Photo illustration c Chris Olson)
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No excuses... Just pick up your camera
Last week at BlogHer 10 in NYC, I was inspired by so many creative bloggers. One of my favorite sessions was presented by three talented artists: Karen Walrond (chookooloonks blog), Carol Gillott (paris breakfasts) and Khadijah Ali-Coleman (MoonWritings).
My teenage daughter attended the BlogHer conference with me and loves creating stop-motion videos because they allow you to transform photos into a "magical motion video."
Karen's stop-motion video below captures the magic of BlogHer. She used over 1300 photos from her conference trip to create this 4-minute video. You can read more about Karen's video and her photography at BlogHer on her lovely chookooloonks blog. Her video and photos remind me, I have no excuses... Just pick up my camera and start shooting!
BlogHer'10: 4 days in 4 minutes
The beautiful sights and face of BlogHer 10.
Video by Karen Walrond
Special mommy hugs to Karen and all the wonderful bloggers at BlogHer 10.
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Waiting for my coffee to brew
When the world is just waking up, I like to sit on the stairs and soak in the unconditional love my dogs offer. Illustration © Chris Olson.
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Don't read this if you are hungry...
Last week at the BlogHer 10 conference in NYC, 2,400 bloggers/attendees gathered to discuss all things blogging and, of course, to have fun. I was delighted to meet blogger and artist Carol Gillott who creates the lovely blog Paris Breakfasts.
"Macaroons, jam jars, cafe cups--reflections
of everyday life in Paris"
-- Carol Gillott on Etsy
You can find more of Carol's watercolors at
I'm sending special mommy hugs to Carol for her inspirational conference presentation and her yummy blog. Thanks for sharing your talents at BlogHer 10.
At the BlogHer conference Carol mentioned she isn't on Twitter or Facebook yet, but I am going to convince her to join us :)
(Photo above is a screen shot of her Paris Breakfasts blog.)
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Daily Doodle: Dogs in the City
Had a wonderful time in NYC attending BlogHer 10. Saw so many adorable dogs in the city! Whenever I travel, I miss my puppies at home. This doodle of Frenchies was inspired by the many cute pups I met in NYC. Doodle created on my iPad.
You can see more of my dog illustrations here.
Illustration © Chris Olson. Artwork may not be copied or reproduced without permission.
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Daily doodle: I heart bikes
Wish I had my bike this week in Central Park.
(Doodle by me, Chris Olson)
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Menus from NYC (and more) on your iPhone
Where do you want to go for lunch or dinner today? Now you can use your iPhone or iPod touch to check out restaurant menus using the free MenuPages app. You can search for restaurants by type, or location. One of the best features is skimming a list of nearby restaurants to decide where to dine. Once you decide on a restaurant, just tap the icon to bring up the menu as well as restaurant hours and location.
Cities included on MenuPages
MenuPages includes the following cities:
- NYC
- San Francisco
- LA
- Philadelphia
- Washington DC
- South Florida.
- NEW: Restaurant recommendations for travelers in London and Paris.
If you don't have an iPhone or iPad you can access MenuPages.com on your laptop.
MenuPages is also on Twitter.
(MenuPages artwork above from MenuPages.com.)
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Recipes, DIY, Crafts
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- I am delighted to have my images from this blog re-posted but please always credit MomathonBlog.com as the original source when re-posting to your blog, Pinterest, Tumblr, or any other site. Please also credit with a link back to MomathonBlog.com. Please ask permission before re-posting exact text, instructions, recipes, or diy's from MomathonBlog.com. Thank you.